Canto IV is the final, unfinished [[Cantos of the Lay of Leithian|Canto]] of the [[Lay of Leithian]]. It begins with [[Beren Erchamion|Beren]] and [[Lúthien]] fleeing with the [[Silmarils|Silmaril]] through slumbering [[Angband]]. But at the gate [[Carcharoth]] awoke from the enchantment. He leaped at them before Lúthien could weave another spell, and Beren stood before his beloved, and with his left hand he caught the wolf's throat and with the right he thrust the Silmaril into the eyes of the wolf. The fangs of Carcahroth "crashed together like a trap" and took off Beren's hand, Silmaril and all. There the Lay ends.

Canto IV is the final, unfinished [[Cantos of the Lay of Leithian|Canto]] of the [[Lay of Leithian]]. It begins with [[Beren Erchamion|Beren]] and [[Lúthien]] fleeing with the [[Silmarils|Silmaril]] through slumbering [[Angband]]. But at the gate [[Carcharoth]] awoke from the enchantment. He leaped at them before Lúthien could weave another spell, and Beren stood before his beloved, and with his left hand he caught the wolf's throat and with the right he thrust the Silmaril into the eyes of the wolf. The fangs of Carcahroth "crashed together like a trap" and took off Beren's hand, Silmaril and all. There the Lay ends.

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== The Canto ==

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<blockquote>

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Up through the [[Angband|dark and echoing gloom]]<br>

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as ghosts from many-tunnelled tomb,<br>

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up from the [[Iron Mountains|mountain's roots]] profound<br>

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and the vast [[Morgoth|menace]] underground,<br>

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their limbs aquake with deadly fear,<br>

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terror in eyes, and dread in ear,<br>

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together fled they, by the beat<br>

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affrighted of their flying feet.

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</blockquote>

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<blockquote>

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At last before them far away<br>

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they saw the glimmering wraith of day,<br>

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the mighty archway of the [[Gates of Angband|gate]]—<br>

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and there a horror new did wait.<br>

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Upon the threshold, watchful, dire,<br>

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his eyes new-kindled with dull fire,<br>

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towered [[Carcharoth]], a biding doom:<br>

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his jaws were gaping like a tomb,<br>

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his teeth were bare, his tongue aflame;<br>

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aroused he watched that no one came,<br>

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no flitting shade nor hunted shape,<br>

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seeking from [[Angband]] to escape.<br>

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Now past that guard what guile or might<br>

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could thrust from death into the light?

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</blockquote>

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<blockquote>

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He heard afar their hurrying feet,<br>

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he snuffed an odour strange and sweet;<br>

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he smelled their coming long before<br>

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they marked the waiting threat at door.<br>

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His limbs he stretched and shook off sleep,<br>

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then stood at gaze. With sudden leap<br>

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upon them as they sped he sprang,<br>

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and his howling in the arches rang.<br>

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Too swift for thought his onset came,<br>

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too swift for any spell to tame;<br>

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and [[Beren Erchamion|Beren]] desperate then aside<br>

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thrust [[Lúthien]], and forth did stride<br>

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unarmed, defenceless to defend<br>

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[[Lúthien|Tinúviel]] until the end.<br>

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With left he caught at hairy throat,<br>

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with right hand at the eyes he smote—<br>

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his right, from which the radiance welled<br>

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of the holy [[Silmaril]] he held.<br>

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As gleam of swords in fire there flashed<br>

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the fangs of Carcharoth, and crashed<br>

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together like a trap, that tore<br>

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[[Erchamion|the hand about the wrist]], and shore<br>

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through brittle bone and sinew nesh,<br>

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devouring the frail mortal flesh;<br>

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and in that cruel mouth unclean<br>

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engulfed the jewel's holy sheen.

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</blockquote>

Revision as of 15:04, 15 July 2006

Canto IV is the final, unfinished Canto of the Lay of Leithian. It begins with Beren and Lúthien fleeing with the Silmaril through slumbering Angband. But at the gate Carcharoth awoke from the enchantment. He leaped at them before Lúthien could weave another spell, and Beren stood before his beloved, and with his left hand he caught the wolf's throat and with the right he thrust the Silmaril into the eyes of the wolf. The fangs of Carcahroth "crashed together like a trap" and took off Beren's hand, Silmaril and all. There the Lay ends.